I picked the Eiffel Tower because it is an icon and it is a place that I have always wanted to visit since I was a little kid.

The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world when it was built!
It took several years to build the Eiffel Tower!
The Eiffel Tower was completed over 100 years ago, in 1889!
Prominent artists at the time protested the Eiffel Tower being built because they thought it would look bad and distract from France's other landmarks!
The Eiffel Tower is now a French icon!

How tall is Big Ben?: Big Ben is 315 feet (96 meters) high.

How is it STEM related: Big Ben is STEM related because it involved the engineering process. The people that designed Big Ben applied science and math to create the Big Ben tower. Engineering involves the process of using science and math to solve problems. 

Why I chose it: I chose Big Ben because I have always thought it was beautiful. I thought it would be great to read the history facts about it and understand how it was developed. I hope to visit there some day. 

Power generation is managed by China Yangtze Power, a listed subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC)—a Central Enterprise SOE administered by SASAC. The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest capacity hydroelectric power station with 34 generators: 32 main generators, each with a capacity of 700 MW, and two plant power generators, each with capacity of 50 MW, making a total capacity of 22,500 MW. Among those 32 main generators, 14 are installed in the north side of the dam, 12 in the south side, and the remaining six in the underground power plant in the mountain south of the dam.

Advantages: The benefits of the Three Gorges Dam are flood control, power generation, navigation, aquaculture, tourism, ecological protection, environmental purification, development-oriented resettlement, transfer of water from southern China to northern China, and water supply and irrigation.

Disadvantages: It has increased water pollution levels. It has created a human migration problem. The Three Gorges Dam has changed the landscape. Local infrastructure struggles with the dam's total capacity. It has been known to trigger earthquakes.

The Great Wall of China was built over centuries by China’s emperors to protect their territory. Today, it stretches for thousands of miles along China’s historic northern border. Around 220 B.C.E., Qin Shi Huang, also called the First Emperor, united China. He masterminded the process of uniting the existing walls into one. At that time, rammed earth and wood made up most of the wall.

It cost CNY 635 billion (approximately USD 95 billion. It was financed mainly through taxes starting in the Qin dynasty. The wall was so expensive it crushed their economy, sparking a rebellion

The Great Wall of China is STEM related because it deals with the structure of the wall, towers, shelters, and open passes. Students can construct models of this wall, and they also learn the geography of this man made landmark.

I picked this landmark because
1. It came out in the movie Mulan, and I always wanted to learn more about it and how it was made.
2. It was a landmark that was made years ago and still remains today that I hope to see one day. 

The price of white marble is about 
$ 2.900.000 dollars, and the cost of labor amounted to about $ 1,200,000, which means that the cost of building the Tower of Leaning Tower today is estimated at 
$ 4.100.000 dollars.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is STEM related since students go through the engineering process as they build and construct this leaning tower. It intertwines scientific knowledge and practices to empower students to learn. 

I picked this landmark because I remember back in middle school I had to create a Photoshop picture for my computer class with any famous landmark and I chose The Leaning of Tower of Pisa. I remember I posed as if I was holding the tower trying to keep it from falling, and I've always remembered this landmark because of it.

Source of energy: Roadrunner solar project will use more than 1.2 million bifacial solar modules based on solar photovoltaic technology. Photovoltaic is the conversion of light into electricity. The bifacial solar modules can capture reflection from the ground to produce solar energy, which doubles the production.

The Output: The full project, sited across approximately 2,770 acres, can generate 1.2 TWh annually while avoiding the emission of over 800,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Advantages: Solar energy is an abundant source and there is lots of it in Texas. So, having plenty of this type of energy is an advantage. This is helping us turn to more than just one source of energy. With solar energy, we will also reduce CO2 emissions. The project employed approximately 500 people at the peak of the construction. It will generate approximately $60m for the local community in the new tax revenue.

Disadvantages: The cost of solar panels and construction for these farms is not cheap. The Roadrunner Farm has an estimated construction cost of $567 million. Solar energy is weather-dependent. Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system drops. Solar panels are dependent on sunlight to effectively gather solar energy.

Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ. It was created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with French engineer Albert Caquot. Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida fashioned the face.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer was completed in 1931 and stands 98 feet (30 meters) tall, its horizontally outstretched arms spanning 92 feet (28 meters). The statue has become emblematic of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the whole nation of Brazil.

The statue, made of reinforced concrete clad in a mosaic of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles, sits on a square stone pedestal base about 26 feet (8 meters) high, which itself is situated on a deck atop the mountain’s summit. The statue is the largest Art Deco-style sculpture in the world.

Construction began in 1926 and took 5 years to build the Christ the Redeemer. Construction concluded in 1931, with a total cost of about $250,000 U.S. dollars. Equivalent to about $3.4 million in today's value.

STEM: To make the statute a lot of engineering was needed. The statue was composed of six million tiles transported by cogwheel train over the years of construction. (While the train no longer runs, the tracks are visible on the road up the mountain.) The tiles are related to science because the tiles were a soap stone covering to protect the statue from the elements. 

Why I picked it: I chose this structure because I would love to visit it one day. I remember the first time seeing the statue I thought it was in Mexico because that was the only other country I knew. I quickly learned that I was incorrect but ever since then it was been at the top of my list of places to visit.

In 1956 the state government sponsored an international competition for a design that was to include a building with two halls. Architects from some 30 countries submitted 233 entries. In January 1957 the judging committee announced the winning entry, that of Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who won with a dramatic design showing a complex of two main halls side by side facing out to the harbor on a large podium. Each hall was topped with a row of sail-shaped interlocking panels that would serve as both roof and wall, to be made of precast concrete.

Construction began in 1959 and posed a variety of problems, many resulting from the innovative nature of the design. The opening of the Opera House was originally planned for Australia Day (January 26) in 1963, but cost overruns and structural engineering difficulties in executing the design troubled the course of the work, which faced many delays. It was finally completed in 1973.

The original cost estimate to build Sydney Opera House was $7 million. The final cost was $102 million and it was largely paid for by a State Lottery.

STEM: This is STEM-related mainly for the engineering portion. Utzon, the architect, envisioned a design solution of interlocking vaulted “shells,” each of which is composed of precast rib segments rising from a concrete pedestal to the ridge beam. The construction of these shells took eight years to complete and the development of a special ceramic tile for the shells took over three years. The geological location of the Sydney opera house caused problems for engineers. Bennelong point had been assumed that the promontory comprised Hawkesbury sandstone mass, like the surrounding land; whereas in fact, it was made of loose alluvial deposits permeated with seawater and completely unsuitable for bearing the weight of the intended structure. This was fixed by some 700 steel-cased concrete shafts, nearly 1 meter each in diameter, which was bored down into the perimeter and northern half of the site. Mass concrete foundations filled in the unstable rock in the central area of the site. 

Why I picked it: I chose this because I learned about this from watching the movie Finding Nemo, a childhood classic. Dory reciting “42 Wallaby Way, Sydney”, Sydney being the same location as the Sydney Opera House, always made me laugh. The scene when the school of Moonfish formed Sydney Opera House is also iconic, and because of this movie, this famous man-made structure has stuck with all these years.

What is the source of energy: This barren area of land is susceptible to high-pressure winds, making it the largest producer of clean energy from wind in India . The source of energy for Muppandal Wind Farm is renewable energy source.

What is the output?  The electrical generators used on wind turbines in sites like Muppandal produce an output AC of 240 V frequency of 50 Hz even when the wind speed is fluctuating. 

Advantages: The wind energy will not be exhaustible, till the life on earth. This energy is distributed widely and cleanest. Another advantage is that it is non-polluting, and a renewable source of energy. It also avoids fuel explosion and transport. 

 Disadvantages: Some of the disadvantages are related to the noise that comes from these operations. Another disadvantage is the installation-and maintenance cost of a wind turbine is high. Fossil fuels pollute, are environmentally damaging, and running out fast. 

Location: Moscow, Russia in one of the most famous squares in the city referred to as the “Red Square”

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Tell me something about it: An interesting fact about the St. Basil’s Cathedral has multiple different names. It was originally known as the “Holy Trinity Church”. It was renamed as the “Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed”. Today it is commonly known as the “Saint Basil’s Cathedral”.

Who made it: There is very little known about who really built the Cathedral. There is an old legend that the masterpiece was designed by architects Barma and Postnik Yakovelev. The legend also states that Ivan the Terrible blinded them so that they could not recreate the building ever again. 

When: The St. Basil’s Cathedral was commissioned by Invan the Terrible in 1552. Construction took nearly ten years to complete, so the cathedral was consecrated in 1561.

Why: The St. Basil Cathedral was built in regards to a symbol of the country. It was also to recognize that Ivan IV had the cathedral built to recognize his victories in Kazan.

How much: The St. Basil’s Cathedral is estimated to have cost 2 million 520,000.

What is STEM related about it: One of the main stem related parts of the St. Basil’s Cathedral that I noticed was the structure. The Cathedral was designed in a shape that resembles a bonfire rising into the sky. It comprises eight churches surrounding a lard core building. The walls are built from red brick, which was a new material at the time of its construction. Forces needed to be balanced in order for a building to stay until. If the building is not stable gravity will pull the structure down.

Tell me why you picked it: I picked this structure, because I think it's truly beautiful. I think it looks like a castle you might see in Aladdin or something. I also like the mystery of the structure. To me the legend story makes it just that more interesting.

Location: The Blue Mosque is located in Istanbul, Turkey.

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Tell me something about it: An interesting fact is that the Blue Mosque is open every day of the year but closed at prayer times for 90 minutes. 

Who made it: There is a legend-like story saying that Sultan Ahmed 1 ordered the architect to build-up golden minarets. Which was assumed to be mistakenly understood as six in number due to the homonymic words in Turkish. 

When: It was built between 1609, and 1616, and was officially opened in 1616. 

Why: The Blue Mosque was built to reflect this worldwide majestic power of the Ottoman dynasty complementing the fame of Hagia Sophia

. 

How much: It is said that the Blue Mosque cost $85 million

What is STEM related about it? What first comes to mind when I think of the STEM relation is the design of the structure. The mathematics that was involved when creating this building had to have taken quite a bit of time. Their architectural design had 6 minarets, and 8 domes. This took a lot of calculations to make this structure achievable. 

Tell me why you picked it: I chose this building because I think the history behind this building is beautiful. St. Basil's Cathedral is a place I have always wanted to visit. I think the religious element behind it is very interesting, and I bet a tour would be amazing. 

Advantages:
generated approximately 1,000 construction jobs and 60 permanent jobs during the operation and maintenance phase.

Sculpting and decorative work at the Parthenon continued until 432 B.C. It’s estimated that 13,400 stones were used to build the temple, at a total cost of around 470 silver talents (roughly $7 million U.S. dollars today).

The Parthenon is STEM because of the architecture and creative ways it was engineered so long ago!

I chose this location because I am fascinated by ancient history. The way people were able to create such strong and beautiful structures so long ago amazes me.

What is the source of energy? 
Ivanpah uses power tower solar thermal technology to generate power by creating high-temperature steam to drive a conventional steam turbine. Mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight and create steam, which is then converted to electricity. Ivanpah employs an innovative system of software-controlled mirrors—called heliostats—that follow the sun and reflect it onto water-filled boilers atop three separate 450 foot towers on the site.  When the sunlight hits the boilers, the water inside is heated and creates high temperature steam. The steam is then piped to conventional steam turbines, which generate electricity.

Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available.

What is the output? 
The Ivanpah solar plant has a capacity of almost 400 megawatts (MW), which is enough to power 140,000 homes.

Advantages: 
Ivanpah is expected to generate 940,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy per year and prevent 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. It created 1,000 construction jobs and is expected to support 61 permanent jobs. In addition, the majority of the project’s supply chain was sourced in the United States, with components and services coming from at least 18 states.

Disadvantages: 
The project generated controversy because of the decision to build it on ecologically intact desert habitat. The facility was fenced off to keep out some terrestrial wildlife. However, birds faced the risk of collision with the heliostat mirrors or from burning in solar flux created by the mirror field. In April 2014, the USFWS reported that 141 dead birds, including peregrine falcon, barn owl and yellow-rumped warbler had been collected at Ivanpah in October 2013. Forty-seven of the birds' deaths were attributed to solar flux. According to a report by the Associated Press, "Ivanpah might act as a 'mega-trap' for wildlife, with the bright light of the plant attracting insects, which in turn attract insect-eating birds that fly to their death in the intensely focused light rays." 

In April 2015 the Wall Street Journal reported that "biologists working for the state estimated that 3,500 birds died at Ivanpah in the span of a year, many of them burned alive while flying through a part of the solar installment where air temperatures can reach 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Many desert tortoises found on the site were also relocated to other parts of the Mojave Desert. However, environmentalists raised concerns that relocated tortoises were more likely to die due to the stresses involved.

Voyager 2 successfully fulfilled its primary mission of visiting the Jovian system in 1979, the Saturnian system in 1981, Uranian system in 1986, and the Neptunian system in 1989. The spacecraft is now in its extended mission of studying interstellar space. It has been operating for 44 years, 3 months and 14 days as of November 28 2021, reaching a distance of 129.3 AU (19.343 billion km; 12.019 billion mi) from Earth.

Voyager 2 remains in contact with Earth through the NASA Deep Space Network. In 2020, maintenance to the Deep Space Network cut outbound contact with the probe for eight months. Contact was reestablished on November 2, 2020, when a series of instructions was transmitted and relayed back with a successful communication message. On February 12, 2021, full communications with the probe were restored after a major antenna upgrade that took a year to complete. The DSS 43 communication antenna, which is solely responsible for communications with the probe, is located near Canberra, Australia.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the city of Pasadena in California, United States. Voyager 2 was constructed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The cost of the Voyager 1 and 2 missions, including launch, mission operations from launch through the Neptune encounter and the spacecraft's nuclear batteries (provided by the Department of Energy), is $865 million. NASA budgeted an additional $30 million to fund the Voyager Interstellar Mission for two years following the Neptune encounter.

Voyager 2 is expected to keep transmitting weak radio messages until at least the mid 2020s, more than 48 years after it was launched. It is not headed toward any particular star, although in roughly 42,000 years, it will pass light-years from the star Ross 248. And if undisturbed for 296,000 years, Voyager 2 should pass by the star Sirius at a distance of 4.3 light-years.

NASA placed an ambitious message aboard Voyager 1 and 2, a kind of time capsule, intended to communicate a story of our world to extraterrestrials. The Voyager message is carried by a phonograph record, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk, known as the Golden Record, containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth.

Voyager 2 is related to STEM because it was built by engineers and scientists. Its purpose was to send back information about the furthest planets in our solar system, and this information was received here on Earth because of the technology. Also, Voyager 2 was sent before Voyager 1, but reach the outer planets later than Voyager 1 because of the way it was launched. This involves math in order to understand the speed and velocity needed to propel an object in space. The original plan for Voyager 2 was to last only 5 years and send back information about Jupiter and Saturn, but scientists and engineers were able to reprogram the spacecraft, which has extended its mission. All the information sent back to Earth from Voyager 2 gives us more understanding about the origin and evolution of the planets in our solar system. Some of the discoveries made by Voyager 2 include discovering 10 new moons of Uranus and two new rings, and discovering five moons, four rings, and a “Great Dark Spot” on Neptune. All of these discoveries are STEM related because science, technology, engineering, and math were needed to create Voyager 2 and receive the information it has transmitted. It requires planning, hypothesizing, and exploration.

I chose Voyager 2 because I love outer space. I find it incredible that this spacecraft was able to bring us pictures of planets that are years and years away from us. Through these images, we have learned more about our solar system, and this also is amazing to me. I also find it interesting that Voyager 2 will still be exploring space thousands of years after I leave this planet. I can only imagine the amount of information that we will learn if Voyager 2 still continues to send back information after that many years. To me outer space is a mystery, which is why I picked Voyager 2 because it has given us some information about planets that are out of our reach, but that are still part of who we are, and understanding them, helps us understand our origins.

Trunk, spine, fronds, and crescent are the names by which the principal sectors of Palm Jumeirah are known. The broad trunk, connected to the mainland by a bridge, serves as the entrance to the development. Another bridge connects the trunk to the spine, a narrow central axis from which 17 fronds protrude. The crescent is a breakwater that nearly surrounds the other sectors. It is divided into three sections so as to facilitate the circulation of seawater. A vehicular tunnel connects the spine to the crescent, and a transit monorail runs about 3 miles from the mainland to the crescent through the spine and trunk. The crescent is 650 feet wide and about 10.5 miles long altogether. At least 1,380 acres of new land were created in all, within an area of about 3.1 miles in diameter.

The developer of Palm Jumeirah was Nakheel, a real estate company now owned by the government of Dubai. The master plan was drawn up by Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock, an American architectural firm. The unique structure of Palm Jumeirah comprises of 120 million cubic meters of sand, that was brought from the seabed into construction. Also, 7 million tons of rocks were obtained from the Hajar Mountains and carried to construct the base. Work started in 2001, and land and basic infrastructure were in place by 2004. Construction of the buildings began in 2006, and the first residents arrived in 2007.

Palm Jumeirah was intended to be the first of three similarly shaped offshore developments in Dubai. The others, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira, are both much larger than Palm Jumeirah but remain uncompleted because of economic uncertainty. Palm Jumeirah reportedly cost $12 billion during its development.

The creation of Palm Jumeirah is related to STEM because it took engineers time to plan and create this artificial island. There was no steel or concrete used in the creation of the island. It was only built by sand and stones. Also, GPS were used to pinpoint the accuracy of the Palm shape. This requires math. Engineers also had to figure out a way to protect the island from typhoons and storms, so science, technology, engineering, and math was involved in the creation of the island.

I decided to choose Palm Jumeirah because although the work done from it is astonishing, it upsets me that we, as humans, can change the typography of the land. I understand that this is done in many places, but I believe that we could be hurting our environment. Only time will tell what kind of ecological damage this will do to the region, and that to me is disturbing. The creation looks beautiful from the air, but in my opinion, I believe it was unnecessary.

The source of energy comes from water. In this case, it comes from the Caroni River. Most of the electricity comes from hydroelectricity. The Guri Dam is 532 ft in height and 4,314 ft in length. This is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants.

What is the output? 

The output of this Guri Hydroelectric Power Plant is 10,200 MW. Which provides 50,000 GW of energy annually to Venezuela. 

 

Advantages

Some of the advantages are that it helps the economy of Venezuela and it saves up to 300,000 barrels of oil per day. It also provides energy to Brazil. Creates 70% of Venezuela’s electricity. Prevents 20 million tons per year of Carbon Dioxide from going into the atmosphere. 

Disadvantages

It is near an area for hunting traditions by indigenous tribes. Large gold and diamond mining operation upstream which produces large amounts of sediment. It can also turn a forest into a savannah very quickly. 

 

The STEM behind this is the engineering part of it. The rim, also known as the eye, is supported by tensioned steel cables which look like bicycle wheels. The reason why I picked this was that it reminded me of the Ferris wheel in the State Fair of Texas. 

The energy source for W.A. Parish Generating Station is primarily coal, but it also uses natural gas. Coal is formed when dead plant matter submerged in swamp environments is subjected to the geological forces of heat and pressure over hundreds of millions of years. Over time, the plant matter transforms from moist (wet), low-carbon peat, to coal, an energy- and carbon-dense black or brownish-black sedimentary rock (rock made of smaller pieces of rock, plant, and animal matter). There are multiple coal mines that supply three 124-car trainloads worth of low-sulfur coal, which is about 36,000 tons daily (72 million lbs). The station occupies a 4,664-acre site near Smithers Lake, which serves as the cooling source for the power plant.

The output of W.A. Parish Generating Station is about 3,653 megawatts (MW) of electricity. However, it also produces carbon emissions that have been reduced by about 90% because of the Petra Nova project.

Advantages: The plant produces enough energy to power about 3,000,000 homes in Texas. This power plant also became a part of the Petra Nova project in June 2010, which was designed to capture approximately 90% of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) that 240 MW release into the air and use or sequester (capture) approximately 1.4 million metric tons (over 3 billion pounds) of this greenhouse gas annually. This project was meant to make using nonrenewable resources more sustainable (able to be maintained at a certain level). 

Disadvantages: The W.A. Parish Generating Station holds many recognitions because it is the biggest power producer for the Houston region, but also its also the biggest polluter. The Petra Nova project shut down in May 2020 due to low oil prices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The plant had also reportedly suffered frequent outages and missed its carbon sequestration goal by 17% over its first three years of operation. In a Rice University study done in 2019, it was found that every year that the WA Parish coal plant continues to operate as it has been, the soot pollution causes an estimated 177 people to die prematurely.

Kerens, Texas is known as the "Birthplace of Big Tex", although his was originally a 49-foot (15 m) tall Santa Claus constructed from iron drill casing, papier mache, and unraveled rope in 1949. The statue was an idea of Howell Brister, manager of the Chamber of Commerce, to encourage holiday sales in the town, and stood over Colket Avenue for two holiday seasons — drawing press attention from as far away as Iran and Australia. 

After two seasons the excitement over the statue faded, and Kerens offered it up for sale. In 1951, State Fair president R. L. Thornton purchased Santa's components for $750 and had artist Jack Bridges transform him into a cowboy, giving birth to "Big Tex". On the morning of October 19, 2012, (the final weekend of the 2012 State Fair of Texas, and on Big Tex's 60th birthday) a fire started inside the framework of Big Tex. The figure's clothing, face and hat were completely destroyed in minutes as onlookers watched. News of the fire received national attention, and fair officials committed to rebuilding Big Tex "bigger and better" in time for the 2013 fair. Working under secrecy, a new Big Tex was created during 2013 by SRO Associates and Texas Scenic Co. at a cost of $500,000.

Big Tex relates to STEM because he was created to have oversized proportions of the human body. He has electrical components that allow him to move his mouth and produce sound loud enough for everyone to hear. Circuits within a technology like Big Tex can also be focused on to relate to the energy source and production. His proportions and clothing size can also be compared to the size of our clothing, which can include buttons, boots, and a hat. Specifically, rations and fractions can be focused on through these comparisons. 

I chose Big Tex because students get a chance to go the state fair because schools provide them with a free ticket. Big Tex has become an attraction to see at the fair, which can become a memorable experience for students to witness. Including him in the classroom by comparing his 95-gallon hat to a normal sized 5-gallon hat and his 96 boot size to a regular boot can give students an idea of how big Big Tex actually is. 

The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills and eventually completed by Thomas Casey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, honors and memorializes George Washington at the center of the nation's capital. The structure was completed in two phases of construction, one private (1848-1854) and one public (1876-1884), which is a total of 36 years and took about $1,187,71 to make. Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, evoking the timelessness of ancient civilizations, the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father.

The Washington Monument is STEM related because it was engineered to stand about 555 ft tall using mostly marble. It is made with three different types of marble, which is a metamorphic rock that is made with heat and pressure. There are different types of marble, and the Washington Monument is made out of Texas marble, Sheffield marble, and Cockeysville marble. Marble was chosen to build the Washington Monument because it was more resistant to weathering, which also replaced the sandstone that was commonly used in Washington. This can also be a structure that can be introduced into science and math classes to discuss the rock cycle and finding the area or volume of the obelisk. 

I chose the Washington Monument because a few years ago, I remember reading that it was made out of different types of marble. This was something I found interesting and didn’t know that it was noticeable until I looked at the monument more closely. Students can be given a similar experience by having them look at the monument more closely, which can then be discussed. 

Location: The McGuire Nuclear Power Plant is located in Huntersville, North Carolina about 17 miles northwest of Charlotte, NC, on the state's largest man-made lake, Lake Norman.

McGuire Nuclear Station has served the power needs of the region for more than 30 years.Named after William Bulgin McGuire, the company’s sixth president, the Westinghouse two-unit pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant provides approximately 2,258 megawatts of electricity. Construction of the plant began in 1971 and took nearly 40 million man-hours at a cost of approximately $2 billion. Unit 1 began commercial operations in 1981, followed by unit 2 in 1984.

Source of energy: McGuire Nuclear Power Plant is nuclear energy which is an energy source that has zero emissions.Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms which is a process called fission. This generates heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity. Because nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions.

Output: McGuires Nuclear Power Plant annual net output 18,796 GWh.

The advantages of the McGuires Nuclear Power Plant is that it protects air quality by producing massive amounts of carbon-free electricity. It has been providing carbon free electricity to households across the Carolinas. Nuclear energy is a clean energy source and most reliable energy source that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Designed to operate for longer stretches and refuel every 1.5-2 years and has high power output. 

The disadvantages of the McGuires Nuclear Power Plant is that it was very expensive to construct. More than 2 billions dollars was needed to be built. Not only is nuclear energy expensive, it is a non-renewable energy source that requires lots of water to produce energy. Another disadvantages is that it  can be a target for terrorism and it produces radioactivity waste.

Video: https://youtu.be/qRuN4U2jl9c 

This stunning bridge has a 400 foot center arch that connects Woodall Rodgers Freeway seamlessly to Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas.Architecturally, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge features a 400 foot steel arch with 58 cables radiating from it in a lyrical fashion.  Construction for this bridge started on June 14, 2007 and  was completed in 2012. It was first opened in March 2012.The total cost for the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge was 81.4 million dollars. 

STEM related: The Margaret Hunt Hill bridge is STEM related with its structure. When designing and constructing the bridge it involves science, engineering, and mathematics.  In a classroom a teacher can have students design and build their own bridge with marshmallows and spaghetti strands. 

I picked the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge because it is in Dallas, Texas, the city I was born in. It’s a beautiful bridge where I do enjoy going with my family to walk on and look at the Dallas skyline.

The statue of Cristo Rey faces the city of Leon, GTO. The direction it faces was chosen as the religious centre of Guanajuato state. The present bronze statue of Cristo Rey is the second re-incarnation of the monument. The original 2m stone statue was constructed in 1923, but was destroyed during the final stages of the Mexican revolution.  A former president of Mexico Plutarco Elias Calles had ordered the destruction of all religious monuments and the Christo Rey was ruined by aerial bombardment in one segment of the protracted Mexican revolution.  The present day Cristo Rey del Cubilete monument was cofund by the government  in a gesture of goodwill to the still powerful church. Since it was funded by the goverment the final cost is kept private. However, I believe it cost billions of pesos. The Cristo Rey is the world’s second largest statue of Christ the king.  

The bronze statue was inaugurated in 1940 and was designed by the sculptor Fidias Elizondo and constructed by the architect Nicholas Mariscal Pina . The statue of Cristo Rey del cubilete depicts Christ with his arms extended and open with two angles flanking his sides. One angel holds the royal crown and the second angel carries the crown of thorns. 

STEM related: The statue is STEM related because the process of constructing it takes lots  of engineering, math, and science. They use math to make sure the church it’s on top can hold the statue. 

I picked the Cristo Rey del Cubilete statue because I love it,  it represents my religion, and I actually visited it in 2015 with my family when we went to Guanajuato. Once being on top of the cerro del cubilete and being able to see up close the statue it’s huge and you get to see the beautiful  view of Guanajuato. 

Location: Gansu Province in China.

What is the source of energy: It is powered by wind.

What is the output: The Gansu Wind Farm in China is the biggest in the world and is capable of generating nearly 7,900 MW.

 
Advantage: Pollution levels in China have soared in the last few years. According to WHO, more than 1 million Chinese citizens died prematurely as a result of the deadly airborne toxins. Hence, China has started investing in green energies to curb this situation.

Disadvantage: Unfortunately, more than 60% of the farm’s capacity goes unused each year due to weak demand. The giant Windfarm is capable enough to power a small country and is expected to provide an output of 20,000 MW by the year 2020.

Location: Saudi Arabia

Tell me something about it, who made it, when, why, how much: 

The Abraj Al-Bait ​​is a government-owned complex of seven skyscraper hotels in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. These towers are a part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project that aims to modernize the city in catering to its pilgrims. The central hotel tower, the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, has the world's largest clock face and is the third-tallest building and fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world. The clock tower contains the Clock Tower Museum that occupies the top four floors of the tower.[5]The tallest tower in the complex is the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, with a height of 601 meters (1,972 feet). Currently, it is the fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world,

What is STEM related about it?   Tell me why you picked it? 

I picked this structure because I found it interesting that it was one of the tallest structures in the world. It was completed almost 10 years ago and to me, this means that they must have taken a lot of consideration in building a sturdy foundation and gathering the correct materials to build such a strong and lasting structure. I also liked that it has the largest clock in the world this relates to math and time concepts. Which can be applied every day of our lives.

Location: La Porte Texas

The San Jacinto Monument, east of Houston, commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto, in which Texas won its independence from Mexico and became a republic. Texas joined the United States in 1845.

Construction began on the monument on April 21, 1936, the 100th anniversary of the battle. Construction was completed and the monument was dedicated on April 21, 1939. The $1.5 million it cost to build the monument would be approximately $26.1 million today.

The monument underwent renovation and 1993, the cost of which was over $1 million.

The San Jacinto Monument is 567 feet tall. The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall.

I selected this monument because it is part of our state’s history as a ec-6 teacher it is important that I also know content related to social studies, I feel like this would be an interesting structure to show my students when learning about the battles that took place in our state. STEM is a part of this structure because it takes engineering and math to make sure we are using the proper measurements to build a stable building. 

What is the output?  The aim of the project activity is to generate electricity from renewable energy sources (solar energy) and to sell the electricity generated to the state power grid. The electricity generated is fed into the regional electricity grid, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian electricity grid. The project activity replaces the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, which are estimated at around 694,471 tCO2e per year and thus replaces 733 MWh of electricity per year from the generation mix of power plants that are usually operated with fossil fuels (coal). The solar power plant is connected to the INDIAN GRID.

Advantages? The Bhadla Solar Park is helping India reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels. In rural areas, the technology is also proving to be a much healthier power source than kerosene for indoor lighting. Bhadla Solar Park is driving economic growth and job creation in surrounding areas. The local service industry has benefited from the influx of workers and ambitious young Indians are finding employment in the renewables sector. 

Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy. Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion years. Also, solar farms require very little maintenance.

Disadvantages? They take up a lot of space. Solar farms are large-scale applications of active energy collection, most commonly through the installation of photovoltaic panels. They are usually developed in rural areas because of the amount of space that is required for them. To generate 1 megawatt, a solar farm would require about 2.5 acres. 

Solar farms must be installed in regions where there is abundant sunlight available. When cloud cover obscures the sunlight, then energy production becomes limited. Facilities that have excess shade levels are also impacted in a negative way. Without storage capabilities at the solar farm, the actual energy levels being produced at the facility can become inconsistent

Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643, but work continued other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2020 would be approximately 70 billion rupees (about U.S. $1 billion). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

What is STEM related about it? Several designers and architects – thirty-seven men in all – are mentioned by name in the official Mughal histories, and it is probable that they would have worked together to form the creative team that shaped the Taj Mahal. Also, all the materials used to build the Taj Mahal went through different processes to have what was needed.

Tell me why you picked it? I picked it because it is one of the many places, I want to visit one day.

Tell me something about it: The Burj al Arab (translation: Arabian Tower), is a luxury hotel that stands on an artificial island nearly 300 m from the Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, UAE. Standing at 321 m, it is the third tallest hotel in the world and one of the most expensive, costing an estimated 7.8bn dollars.

Who made it: Designed by Tom Wright and built on Dubai’s coast in 1999, the Burj Al Arab, literally translated to ‘the Arabian Tower’, was built over a five-year period: three to create the island and two to build the hotel. Construction involved an international team of over 3,000 contractors, 250 designers and 3,500 workmen onsite at any given time.

 Why: The aim from the start was to invest in exclusive tourism by building an unbeatable hotel. The construction of the Burj Al Arab hotel was begun in 1994 and completed 1999. The most challenging aspect for the architects and engineers was, above all, the decision to erect the skyscraper on an artificial island, an idea that was repeated and extended subsequently for the famous Palm Islands.

What is STEM related about it? The building is notable for a number of complex engineering and construction feats. The artificial island that was constructed needed to be built low enough to give the impression that the building was floating on water. The reclamation of the land from the sea took 3 years, as engineers created a ground/surface layer of large rocks. To avoid the risk of flooding, perforated concrete blocks were mounted on the bedrock in a honeycomb pattern designed to act as a giant artificial ‘sponge’ and reduce the wave impact.

Tell me why you picked it? I saw this hotel in different movies. I thought this was a perfect occasion to learn more about it.

Jaisalmer Wind Park is the second largest in India (Largest is Muppandal Wind Park) and the fourth largest in the world. Jaisalmer Wind Park consists of 17 wind turbines.
Commissioned by Sulzon Energy in 2001.

Wind energy- is produced by the movement of air (wind) and converted into power for human use.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=afC-gv9z9e8

I picked the Panama Canal because I've always wanted to visit South America. I also, find the engineering and mechanical workings of the canal very interesting.  

Gales- a very strong wind
Breakwaters- a barrier built out into a body of water to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves.
Locks- a short confined section of a canal or other waterway in which the water level can be changed by the use of gates and sluices, used for raising and lowering vessels between two gates.

I chose the Kremlin Wall because it was something that I had never heard of before and I wanted to learn more about it. I was able to find many interesting facts about it. 

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heavens is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It is  situated near the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo) in Downtown Mexico City.

Who and When: The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813 around the original church that was constructed soon after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan, eventually replacing it entirely. Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega planned the construction, drawing inspiration from Gothic cathedrals in Spain. Due to a long time, it took to build it, just under 250 years, an extensive period of construction, allowed the integration into it of the various architectural styles that were in force and in vogue in those centuries: Gothic, Baroque, Churrigueresque, Neoclassical, among others. The same situation experienced different ornaments, paintings, sculptures, and furniture in the interior. The architects were Manuel Tolsa, Claudio de Arciniega, Jose Damian Ortiz de Castro.

Why: It is also, as a consequence of the influence of the Catholic Church on public life, that the building was intertwined with events of historical significance for the societies of New Spain and independent Mexico.

STEM:

This building includes STEM because architects had to use math to measure the outdoor and indoor rooms and space to construct what is known as the Metropolitan Cathedral. Measurements avoid buildings to collapse. The science behind it is the materials they used to make the walls.

The cathedral faces south. The approximate measurements of this church are 59 metres (194 ft) wide by 128 metres (420 ft) long and a height of 67 metres (220 ft) to the tip of the towers. It consists of two bell towers, a central dome, and three main portals. It has four façades which contain portals flanked with columns and statues. It has five naves consisting of 51 vaults, 74 arches and 40 columns. The two bell towers contain a total of 25 bells. The tabernacle, adjacent to the cathedral, contains the baptistery and serves to register the parishioners.

Various architectural styles that were in force and in vogue in those centuries: Gothic, Baroque, Churrigueresque, Neoclassical, among others. Same situation experienced different ornaments, paintings, sculptures and furniture in the interior.

Why: I chose this cathedral building because I am amazed by the different architectural styles and paintings in different churches from across the world. I always tend to visit the cathedrals when I go on vacation. This cathedral in Mexico City caught my attention and I hope to visit one day.

When and Where: The Rialto Bridge is a  stone arch bridge crossing over the narrowest point of the Grand Canal in the heart of Venice. Built in the closing years of the 16th century, the Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge across the canal and is renowned as an architectural and engineering achievement of the Renaissance. 

Who: It was designed and built by Antonio da Ponte and his nephew, Antonio Contino, following a design competition in the city.

The stone used is part of science because it involves how the stone was formed or made. The width, length, and height of this bridge are part of the engineering process and math because they had to measure everything before they built the arch bridge. This will avoid collapsing like the previous bridges and ensure that the height of the bridge was high enough to allow the boats to pass by the canal.

 The Rialto Bridge consists of a single stone-arch span that supports a broad rectangular deck carrying two arcades of shops fronting on three roadways. The lower chord of the bridge is only 25 meters (83 feet) in length, while the width is 20 meters (66 feet). To support the wide stone arch in the soft alluvial soil, 6,000 timber piles were driven under each abutment, and the bed joints of the stones were placed perpendicular to the thrust of the arch.

I chose this bridge because I want to go to Italy one day and discover all the famous architectural buildings. My friend also recommended that I go to Italy and visit this bridge where not only do you enjoy the grand canal scenery, but the markets that are on the bridge. 

Location: Athens, Greece
Acropolis is located on the Attica plateau of Greece

About it:
The Acropolis in Athens was a fortress and military base during the Neolithic period, due to its position which offers a great view of the land and the sea. During the Mycenaean times, it became a religious center, dedicated to the worship of the goddess Athena. Over the centuries, the Acropolis was many things: a home to kings, a citadel, a mythical home of the gods, a religious center and a tourist attraction.

Who made it?
Work began in 447 BC under the architects Ictinus and Callicrates with the supervision of the sculptor Phidias.

When?
It was built during the second half of the 5th century BC

Why?
It was built to honor the goddess Athena, for whom the city is named.

How much?
Costing 5000 talents in the first year alone Acropolis cost is equivalent to around $3 billion in today's money. 

What is STEM related about it?
The Acropolis is STEM related because it deals with an engineering process. The Acropolis used tons of Marble for it to be constructed. The architects had to make a good structured walls, built it above sea level, and still have plenty of open space.

Why did I pick it?
I picked this landmark because I have always wanted to visit Athens due to the Greek Mythology. It's amazing to learn about the history that still stands in Greece today. 

About it:
The George Washington bridge is a bridge that connects the states or New Jersey and New York. The George Washington Bridge stands high above the Hudson River, its eastern end resting on the shores of Manhattan, its western end embedded in the wooded bluffs of New Jersey's Palisades

Who made it?
Swiss-American civil engineer Othmar Ammann designed the bridge.

When?
The Port Authority, with Ammann as its new chief engineer, began construction in October of 1927.

Why?
The George Washington Bridge was built to make travel possible between Fort Lee, New Jersey and Manhattan by crossing over the Hudson River. It also allowed for a good flow of traffic.

How?
The two towers were built first. Once the towers were in place, the four main cables, each a yard in diameter, were strung from shore to shore up over the top of each tower. Next, steel suspenders were hung from the main cables, to support the roadway. Finally, the bridgemen built the road itself, foot by foot, out from the shores, hanging it from the steel suspenders as they went.

The four main cables are each composed of a single strand carried back and forth across the river 61 times. Each strand-itself a bundle of 434 individual wires-wraps around a strand shoe in the anchorage before looping back toward the opposite shore. Each shoe connects to a bar sunk deep into the anchorage that holds the strand in place.

What is STEM related about it?
It is STEM related because this bridge dealt with a lot of engineering. The designer had to make sure enough traffic could flow and that the bridge would be high enough from the ocean. The cables had to be a certain length in diameter to support the road.

Why did I pick it?
I picked this landmark because I thought it was awesome that a bridge could connect two different states to make is easy for transportation. I would like to visit the bridge one day and drive on it back and forth from New Jersey to New York.

Location: Shippingport, Pennsylvania

Beaver Valley Power Station is a nuclear power plant on the Ohio River covering 1,000 acres near Shippingport, Pennsylvania, United States, 27 miles roughly northwest of Pittsburgh. The Beaver Valley plant is operated by Energy Harbor and power is generated by two Westinghouse pressurized water reactors

What is the source of energy?
The source of energy is two water reactors. 

What is the output?
The units can generate enough electricity (1800 MW) to power nearly 1.5 million homes

Advantages:
The Bear Valley Nuclear Power Station provides power to millions of citizens. It has also created over 1,000 jobs to citizens as well.

Disadvantages:
Sadly, the power plant has caused an increase in carbon dioxide in the air. The governor of Pennsylvania was also planning on shutting down the plant this October due to push a climate change policy into law. 

Output: The world’s biggest wind farm, with a planned installed capacity of 20GW. Also known as Gansu Wind Farm, it will feature 7,000 wind turbines installed across the Jiuquan, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Xinjiang, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces of Gansu, China.

Disadvantages:

Geothermal energy is more environmentally friendly than conventional fuel sources such as coal and other fossil fuels. In addition, the carbon footprint of a geothermal power plant is low. While there is some pollution associated with geothermal energy, this is relatively minimal when compared to fossil fuels.

2. Renewable

Geothermal energy is a source of renewable energy that will last until the Earth is destroyed by the sun in around 5 billion years. The hot reservoirs within the Earth are naturally replenished, making it both renewable and sustainable.

3. Huge Potential

Worldwide energy consumption is currently around 15 terawatts, which is far from the total potential energy available from geothermal sources. While we can’t currently use most reservoirs there is a hope that the number of exploitable geothermal resources will increase with ongoing research and development in the industry. It is currently estimated that geothermal power plants could provide between 0.0035 and 2 terawatts of power.

4. Sustainable / Stable

Geothermal provides a reliable source of energy as compared to other renewable resources such as wind and solar power. This is because the resource is always available to be tapped into, unlike with wind or solar energy.

5. Heating and Cooling

Effective use of geothermal for electricity generation requires water temperatures of over 150°C to drive turbines. Alternatively, the temperature difference between the surface and a ground source can be used. Due to the ground being more resistant to seasonal heat changes than the air, it can act as a heat sink/ source with a geothermal heat pump just two meters below the surface.

Disadvantages:

1. Location Restricted

The largest single disadvantage of geothermal energy is that it is location specific. Geothermal plants need to be built in places where the energy is accessible, which means that some areas are not able to exploit this resource. Of course, this is not a problem if you live in a place where geothermal energy is readily accessible, such as Iceland.

2. Environmental Side Effects

Although geothermal energy does not typically release greenhouse gases, there are many of these gases stored under the Earth’s surface which are released into the atmosphere during digging. While these gases are also released into the atmosphere naturally, the rate increases near geothermal plants. However, these gas emissions are still far lower than those associated with fossil fuels.

3. Earthquakes

Geothermal energy also runs the risk of triggering earthquakes. This is due to alterations in the Earth’s structure as a result of digging. This problem is more prevalent with enhanced geothermal power plants, which force water into the Earth’s crust to open up fissures to greater exploitation of the resource. However, since most geothermal plants are away from population centers, the implications of these earthquakes are relatively minor.

4. High Costs

Geothermal energy is an expensive resource to tap into, with price tags ranging from around $2-$7 million for a plant with a 1 megawatt capacity. However, where the upfront costs are high, the outlay can be recouped as part of a long-term investment.

5. Sustainability

In order to maintain the sustainability of geothermal energy fluid needs to be pumped back into the underground reservoirs faster than it is depleted. This means that geothermal energy needs to be properly managed to maintain its sustainability.

It is important for industry to assess the geothermal energy pros and cons in order to take account of the advantages while mitigating against any potential problems.

The stove was finished with hand-carved basswood, Michigan white pine, and laminated redwood. The sides were painted with a unique metallic appearance to look like one of the company's Garland brand steel kitchen ranges. The mammoth replica was transported to Chicago in three railroad cars and was put into the Manufacturers Building, a 200-foot (61 m) high and one-third mile (0.54 km) long structure. The giant model that appeared to be walking formed the company's exhibit pavilion in Section O. Cast-iron stoves were placed under the mammoth Garland stove to showcase the company's products, and nearby salesmen discussed the stoves' qualities

The STEM behind the stove is amazing. The design had to be drawn to scale in order for it to be operational. The stove design is made to be able to operate like a normal stove in a large size.

The first piece of the International Space Station was launched in November 1998. A Russian rocket launched the Russian Zarya (zar EE uh) control module. About two weeks later, the space shuttle Endeavour met Zarya in orbit. The space shuttle was carrying the U.S. Unity node. The crew attached the Unity node to Zarya.

More pieces were added over the next two years before the station was ready for people to live there. The first crew arrived on November 2, 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since. More pieces have been added over time. NASA and its partners from around the world completed construction of the space station in 2011.The ISS has been described as the most expensive single item ever constructed, the total cost was US$150 billion.

The space station has the volume of a five-bedroom house or two Boeing 747 jetliners. It is able to support a crew of six people, plus visitors. On Earth, the space station would weigh almost a million pounds. Measured from the edges of its solar arrays, the station covers the area of a football field including the end zones. It includes laboratory modules from the United States, Russia, Japan and Europe.

In addition to the laboratories where astronauts conduct science research, the space station has many other parts. The first Russian modules included basic systems needed for the space station to function. They also provided living areas for crew members. Modules called "nodes" connect parts of the station to each other.

Stretching out to the sides of the space station are the solar arrays. These arrays collect energy from the sun to provide electrical power. The arrays are connected to the station with a long truss. On the truss are radiators that control the space station's temperature.

Robotic arms are mounted outside the space station. The robot arms were used to help build the space station. Those arms also can move astronauts around when they go on spacewalks outside. Other arms operate science experiments.

Astronauts can go on spacewalks through airlocks that open to the outside. Docking ports allow other spacecraft to connect to the space station. New crews and visitors arrive through the ports. Astronauts fly to the space station on the Russian Soyuz. Robotic spacecraft use the docking ports to deliver supplies

 

The space station has made it possible for people to have an ongoing presence in space. Human beings have been living in space every day since the first crew arrived. The space station's laboratories allow crew members to do research that could not be done anywhere else. This scientific research benefits people on Earth. Space research is even used in everyday life. The results are products called "spinoffs." Scientists also study what happens to the body when people live in microgravity for a long time. NASA and its partners have learned how to keep a spacecraft working well. All of these lessons will be important for future space exploration.

NASA is currently working on a plan to explore other worlds. The space station is one of the first steps. NASA will use lessons learned on the space station to prepare for human missions that reach farther into space than ever before.

 The ISS relates to STEM in many ways. To mention a few the solar energy the arrays absorb to maintain the ISS working properly. Technological advances have made possible the building of the ISS. The suits used for the space walks were created to keep astronauts safe during their space walks. It also relates to engineering and mathematics because nations worked together to bring the station together. Precise calculations to connect all the parts of the ISS in space had to be made. The maintenance of all the equipment requires a methodical process because it is vital to keep the ISS functioning at all times. 

It is incredibly interesting that the human race has been able to explore that far. It helps us to acquire more knowledge not only about the planet but also about the galaxy. The ISS has helped humanity to evolve and to have advances that benefit and improve life on Earth. I’m also very intrigued that the human race could one day become interplanetary. It would be amazing to accomplish something like that, and the ISS had definitely helped humanity to get closer to that goal.

The cornerstone was laid on October 13, 1792, and over the next eight years a construction team of both enslaved and freed African Americans and European immigrants built the Aquia Creek sandstone structure. It was coated with lime-based whitewash in 1798, producing a color that gave rise to its famous nickname. Built at a cost of $232,372, the two-story house was not quite completed when John Adams and Abigail Adams became the first residents on November 1, 1800.

Thomas Jefferson added his own personal touches upon moving in a few months later, installing two water closets and working with architect Benjamin Latrobe to add bookending terrace-pavilions. Jefferson held the first inaugural open house in 1805, and also opened its doors for public tours and receptions on New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July.

Burned to the ground by the British in August 1814, the President’s House was nearly left in its smoldering remains as lawmakers contemplated moving the capital to another city. Instead, Hoban was brought back to rebuild it nearly from scratch, in some areas incorporating the original, charred walls. Upon resuming residency in 1817, James Madison and his wife Dolley gave the home a more regal touch by decorating with extravagant French furniture.

The building’s South and North Porticoes were added in 1824 and 1829, respectively, while John Quincy Adams established the residence’s first flower garden. Subsequent administrations continued to overhaul and bolster the interior through Congressional appropriations; the Fillmores added a library in the second-floor oval room, while the Arthurs hired famed decorator Louis Tiffany to redecorate the east, blue, red and state dining rooms.

William Taft hired architect Nathan Wyeth to expand the executive wing in 1909, resulting in the formation of the Oval Office as the president’s work space. In 1913, the White House added another enduring feature with Ellen Wilson’s Rose Garden. A fire during the Hoover administration in 1929 destroyed the executive wing and led to more renovations, which continued after Franklin Roosevelt entered office.

Architect Eric Gugler more than doubled the space of what was becoming known as the “West Wing,” added a swimming pool in the west terrace for the polio-stricken president, and moved the Oval Office to the southeast corner. A new east wing was constructed in 1942, its cloakroom transformed into a movie theater.

A final major overhaul took place after Harry Truman entered office in 1945. With structural problems mounting from the 1902 installation of floor-bearing steel beams, most of the building’s interior was stripped bare as a new concrete foundation went in place. The Trumans helped redesign most of the state rooms and decorate the second and third floors, and the president proudly displayed the results during a televised tour of the completed house in 1952.

Over the course of 1969-70, a porte-cochere and circular drive were added to the exterior of the West Wing, with a new press briefing room installed inside. Following a 1978 study to assess the exterior paint, up to 40 layers were removed in some areas, allowing for repairs of deteriorated stone. Meanwhile, the Carter administration set about adjusting to a new information age by installing the White House’s first computer and laser printer. The internet made its debut in the mansion under the watch of George H.W. Bush in 1992.

The White House today holds 132 rooms on six floors, the floor space totaling approximately 55,000 square feet. It has hosted long standing traditions such as the annual Easter Egg Roll, as well as historic events like the 1987 nuclear arms treaty with Russia. The only private residence of a head of state open free of charge to the public, the White House reflects a nation’s history through the accumulated collections of its residing presidents, and serves as a worldwide symbol of the American republic.

It relates to STEM because blueprints were required to build the building. Mathematical calculations by architects were used to ensure the stability of the building would be strong. The building is an innovation that required precise measurements and calculations when being built.

I picked it because I wanted to learn about its history. It is also interesting because every president that has lived there has left a personal touch. I considered it crucial to know about it, because it is a representation of the country and its government.

Began commercial operation in 2003, with additional phases added through 2007. Supplies electricity to Austin Energy, CPS and others under the terms of various agreements. Consists of 392 General Electric, MHI and Siemens wind turbines.

source of energy

With average wind speeds of 8.0 to 8.5 meters per second and an average solar index of 5.5 to 6.0 kWh per square meter per day, the region is a prime location for renewable energy for today and the future. It generates 585 megawatts (MW) of electricity, with a net Duke Energy Renewables capacity of 283 MW

 output

Sweetwater Wind Farm annual output is 1,760 GW·h

Advantages

Some of the advantages of Wind farms are that they provide a renewable and clean source of energy at a low operating cost. They also minimize our environmental impact while maximizing local economic and social benefits, such as jobs, new tax revenues and education.

Disadvantages

More wind energy is produced in Nolan County than almost anywhere else on the planet, but since this place has given birth to such a staggering number of turbines, it now accommodates more than its fair share of dead ones, too. 

Hundreds of fiberglass wind turbine blade chunks are piled into a 10-acre pasture. They have been cut into three pieces, laid down and piled up like empty straw wrappers discarded by giants. This is one of Texas’ first wind turbine graveyards. As wind turbine blades increasingly reach the end of their useful lives, normally 25 to 30 years, more of these sites are expected to pop up across the state and nation. So far, no one has figured out a good way to get rid of the blades.And in the next decade, many of the 180,000 blades currently churning in U.S. airspace—more than one-quarter of which are in Texas alone—will come down.